Tone-volume indicator.



F. B. BEINKAMP & L. L. HARDING.

TONE VOLUME INDICATOR. APPLIOATION FILED 0GT.21,1910.

1 ,O22,528, Patented Apr. 9, .1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK 1B. BEINKAMP, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, AND LEBBEUS L. HARDING, OF CANON CITY, COLORADO, ASSIGNORS TO THE VOCALSTYLE MUSIC COMPANY, OF CINCIN- NATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TONE-VOLUME INDICATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK B. BEIN- RAMP and LEBBEUS L. HARDING, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, in Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, and in Canon City, in the county of Fremont and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tone-Volume Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to perforated music rolls for automatic player pianos, and more particularly to means whereby the operator of a player piano may readily ascertain the proper volume of tone of a composition to be produced by means provided on the music sheet roll.

The object of our invention is to produce a perforated music sheet roll for player pianos and provide means thereon whereby an operator may readily ascertain the volume of tone required in the particular composition being played.

Our invention consists in arranging longitudinally upon a music sheet a series of parallel lines which are parallel to the side edges of the music sheet, each pair of parallel lines being spaced apart longitudinally from the adjacent pairs of parallel lines, and the parallel lines of each pair being spaced laterally varying distances from each other and at a different distance than the parallel lines of the adjacent pairs are spaced laterally from each other whereby the volume of tone to be given any part of the composition while said sheet is passing over the tracker board of a player piano, is indicated.

Referring to the accompanying sheet, which serves to illustrate our invent-ion, 1 represents a perforated music sheet for player pianos with perforations or note openings 2 therein.

3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 represent a series of parallel lines each pair of the series showing the parallel lines a different distance apart. The distance between the parallel lines of each pair indicates the particular volume of tone to be given the composition on the sheet opposite such lines.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 21, 1910.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Serial No. 588,242.

The parallel lines 3 are placed near together to indicate the softest volume of tone, the parallel lines l an increased volume of tone compared with the volume of tone rep resented by the parallel line 3, and the parallel lines 5, 6 and 7 each indicates an increased volume of tone, while parallel lines 8, which are spaced apart more than the others, indicates the largest volume of tone.

lVhile we have shown the several pairs of parallel lines of the series spaced apart laterally different distances, it should be understood that different pairs in the series may be spaced apart laterally the same distance if the same volume of tone should be desired upon more than one part of the music roll or sheet.

It is readily seen that the degree of volume intended for any part of the composition is indicated by the distance between the parallel lines of each pair, as shown, and will enable the performer to determine at a glance the volume of tone to be used.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a perforated music sheet for player pianos having perforations therein representing the notes of a composition, a series of parallel lines extending longitudinally upon said music sheet and parallel to the side edges of the music sheet, each pair of said parallel lines being spaced apart longitudinally from the adjacent pairs of parallel lines and the parallel lines of each pair being spaced varying distances laterally from each other and at a different distance from each other than the parallel lines of the adjacent pairs are spaced laterally from each other, whereby the volume of tone to be given any part of said composition as said music sheet passes over the tracker board of a player piano, is indicated, substantially as set forth and for the purposes specified.

FRANK B. BEINKAMP. LEBBEUS L. HARDING.

Witnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY, WINONA DOAN.

Copies of this patent may beobtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

